VENUE & TIME: MCG, Saturday 31 July, 2.10pm (AEST)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played: 240, Collingwood 113, Carlton 123, Draws: 4
LAST TIME: Collingwood 24.11 (155) def Carlton 16.6 (102), Round 6, 2010 at the MCG
WALKING WOUNDED: Brad Dick (shoulder) and Heath Shaw (back) will need to pass fitness tests to be considered for selection for the Pies this week. Team-mate Anthony Corrie (knee) will miss 1-2 weeks. For the Blues, there's doubt over Dennis Armfield who sustained a neck injury when he was crashed into by Ashton Hams at Subiaco last Saturday. Ryan Houlihan (knee) faces a fitness test while Brock McLean (knee) will miss another week. Kane Lucas (hamstring) and Rhys O'Keeffe (back) are out indefinitely and the season is over for Matthew Kreuzer (knee) and Simon White (hip).
FORM:
Collingwood's Past Five:
Round 17: Win, 19.13 (127) - 6.9 (45) v Richmond, MCG
Round 16: Win, 15.10 (100) - 6.16 (52) v St Kilda, MCG
Round 15: Win, 16.9 (105) - 12.7 (79) v Port Adelaide, AAMI Stadium
Round 14: Win, 20.15 (136) - 7.10 (52) v West Coast, Etihad Stadium
Round 13: Win, 13.18 (96) - 10.11 (71) v Sydney, ANZ Stadium
Carlton's Past Five:
Round 17: Win, 15.19 (109) - 11.17 (83) v West Coast, Subiaco Oval
Round 16: Loss, 10.8 (68) - 16.11 (107) v Sydney, Etihad Stadium
Round 15: Loss, 8.10 (58) - 20.6 (126) v Western Bulldogs, Etihad Stadium
Round 14: Win, 18.12 (120) - 9.11 (65) v Brisbane, Etihad Stadium
Round 13: Loss, 12.15 (87) – 14.12 (96) v Fremantle, Etihad Stadium
WHO'S HOT: He's been hot for ages, but Collingwood midfielder Dane Swan shows no sign of cooling down. In yet another best-afield performance, Swan racked up 37 touches against Richmond last Saturday. It was the seventh match in-a-row that he's gathered 30 possessions or more. After a relatively quiet month, Kade Simpson bounced back to form for the Blues with a season-high 33 disposals against West Coast at Subiaco last Saturday night.
WE THINK: Brett Ratten and Mick Malthouse gave an interesting insight during the week into their respective approaches to this contest. While Ratten stressed the importance of being able to rise to the occasion against a traditional rival, Malthouse dismissed the Blues as being no more or no less important than any other opponent. The Magpies are entitled to take the high ground. They're coming off an 82-point victory over Richmond, they occupy top spot on the ladder, they're unbeaten since Round 10 and they've won their past two clashes against Carlton decisively by 53 and 54 points. With just one win to their credit from their previous five games, the Blues bounced back with a strong second half to beat West Coast last week - but half a game won't cut it against Collingwood. History suggests that anything's possible when these teams meet. While that may offer Ratten some comfort, it's Malthouse who holds all the aces. Collingwood by 33 points